Hell’s Angels ‘69: A Retro Ride Through Biker Culture
I’m not a biker but, I dig the culture. I have painted and sold a portrait of Sonny Barger and have more ideas in the works but, I can’t even drive a motorcycle. Anyway, I watched Hell’s Angels ’69 because it was about the Hells Angels and because of its age, otherwise, this ain’t my speed. There are no aliens, no masked killers, etc. It’s fun to step outside the comfort zone sometimes though and just see what’s out there. I did this once a while back and watched an impressive movie called Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw and found a gem. You can read my blog here. Anyway, don’t expect any deep thought or thorough analysis this week. In fact, I expect it to be very short. Fire up your hog and let’s ride into my thoughts on Hell’s Angels ‘69 from 1969.
Sin City Shines in Hell’s Angels ‘69
The look of Las Vegas is iconic. I don’t know of many places that have a look so immediately recognizable. Sure, you have ancient Greece, Rome, and parts of NY but Las Vegas is a spot all its own. If you are a fan of this desert town and gambling capital, you will dig Hell’s Angels ’69 for no other reason than much of the film takes place in this Nevada location. You get to see the city lights, the casinos, the security teams and their uniforms, the crap tables, and the cards. The casino they use in Hell’s Angels ’69 is Ceaser’s Palace so, you see the hotel rooms and even the pool too. The neon lights of the Flamingo and other spots are my favorite part of this flick hands down. While I wouldn’t watch this movie in its entirety again, I would rewatch these scenes.
Sonny Barger Brings Authenticity to Hell’s Angels ‘69
If you dig the Hells Angels MC, you will dig this movie, and for a good reason. Sonny Barger, the president and a founding member of the club’s Oakland chapter, was one of the lead roles in Hell’s Angels ’69. Another known member was Terry the Tramp who was in a supporting role. There must be MC accuracies with Hell’s Angels ’69 including actual members. With the Angels wearing their logo, I expect that everyone who played these roles belonged to the club. After all, HA is well known to be very protective of its intellectual property including the insignias and logos. One thing I noticed and appreciated was that Sonny’s vest had the word “President” on it, and he always led the pack when they were seen riding. Other patches worn by members say, “Filthy Few” and Terry the Tramp has some odd ones as well.
Unpacking the Symbols of Hell’s Angels ‘69
This leads me to a question that I have about the Hells Angels and outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. Terry the Tramp wears a Nazi armband in addition to his HA gear. What is the significance of the swastika for their members? The Tamp’s armband isn’t the only Nazi memorabilia that you see in this flick. Another scene has the group partying at what I think is their clubhouse and covering the ceiling is a giant Nazi flag. Does this just represent a counter lifestyle? I’ve seen, for instance, where Billy Idol would wear a Confederate flag. I’m sure this just represents the idea of being a “rebel” to him. Maybe this is the case with HA and the Nazis – if anyone knows, please let me know in the comments. I don’t consider the Hells Angels to be part of the Nazi or Neo-Nazi movements.
Freedom and Brotherhood in Hell’s Angels ‘69
One of the most intriguing things about outlaw motorcycle clubs to me is the freedom associated with their lifestyle. These fellows ride across the country from one party to the next which often take place at a clubhouse. Any of these is home to a member. Love them or hate them, they value honor, loyalty, and brotherhood above all else. Many of these qualities are illustrated in Hell’s Angels ’69. The group goes from one desert party to the next. Eventually, they land at one of the members’ aunt’s houses and take over – even raising a HA flag overtop her house. One scene has group arrive at the casino where they explain that there are 2 of their men inside and that they were coming in to get them. This is what I mean by brotherhood and loyalty. I can see there being elements of truth in this behavior.
The Dangerous Mystique of the 1%
I’m repeating myself here. I don’t belong to any 1% MC or MC anything, so this is just my opinion. From what I do know though, you don’t really want to cross a club like this. I’ve talked with folks who know much more than I do, and these are not the kinds of people that take disrespect lightly. This film was made in 1969 and was put on by members so, I’m sure they didn’t want to show all their cards – yes, pun intended since this is in Vegas. The ending was not nearly as violent as I expected real life would have been. Don’t get me wrong, having your throttle cables torn out and canteens emptied then stranded miles into the desert isn’t going to make a fun end of life. I just feel like it would have been a little worse for these folks.
Hell’s Angels ‘69: A Surface-Level Look at a Biker Classic
Overall, this was a fun ride but, Hell’s Angels ’69 ain’t for me. I enjoyed the Sin City scenery the most but aside from that, there was little I found too grabbing. Well, there was a chick hitchhiking wearing a blue mod dress that I dug a lot too. Apologies for this short and sweet review of Hell’s Angels ’69 but, I really wasn’t into this one on a deep level. So, this is my surface-level thoughts on this biker movie. I’ve blogged about two other biker movies. One was called Stone from 1974, and the other was Psychomania from 1973. You can read these blogs at their linked titles.
I invite you to follow my art journey on social media, visit my website, and consider supporting and buying my work here. If you liked this blog or the movie, please share. Also, feel free to comment, especially if you are a fan. I’m curious too, if you’re a fan, why? Peace.